how to get to barbuda

by plane

The new (international) airport is now open and the old Codrington village airport is closed so allow more time to get there, it’s further away and out of the village, and definitely too far to walk. You will need to call a taxi or tour guide in advance if you want someone to meet you with transport as there are no taxi ranks on Barbuda. The new airport check-in facilities have slightly improved but there is no difference to the unreliable and expensive local plane service to get to Antigua and back for us or our visitors. If you own a private jet none of this applies – plus you get a completely separate VIP building.

We currently have two operators going to and from Barbuda. LIAT 20 and  SVG (BMN) Airlines.

The 7 seater SVG flight goes twice a day, nearly every day,  They usually arrive in the early morning at around 7.00am and leave in the late afternoon at around 4.00pm. Sometimes they might add more flights as their charters going to and from Barbuda at other times may have empty seats, so it’s always worth asking if they have any other flights. The SVG flight cost has recently increased several times to a prohibitive $175 usd + per round trip and we do not get a subsidised local rate. SVG operate very strict weight allowance policies in their small planes so if you are over-weight in person or in luggage you will be charged extra. If you are planning to bring a lot of luggage, most of us send it separately by ferry or cargo boat – see below.

The slightly bigger LIAT flights go two or three times a week which is good for visitors who want to spend a few nights exploring Barbuda, but Liat keep adjusting their prices to undercut SVG so look for the best available options online. 

Of course you can go one way with each airline, or fly in and take the ferry out and see Barbuda by air and by sea, but ALWAYS double check your reservation a few days before in case there are any time changes or cancellations they have forgotten to tell you about. This would then give you time to re-book with someone else, especially if you are linking up with an international flight out of Antigua.

by helicopter

An exciting and popular way to see Barbuda from the sky without weather hold-ups or flight cancellations, this is a great service primarily for visitors to Nobu and Barbuda Ocean Club. However Calvin Air have also kindly assisted Barbudans when other options to transport medical emergencies are unavailable. Calvin Air Helicopters operate tours of Antigua, Barbuda and Montserrat (with amazing views of the volcano) so contact them here for information on their fares to Barbuda.

by ferry

There are currently three boats operating from Antigua to Barbuda, mostly leaving early in the morning from Antigua and returning to Antigua the same day in the afternoon. These utmost reliable boats have been running for 25 years and are run by Barbuda Express Ltd who have a passenger ferry called Barbuda Express, and cargo/passenger ferries Typhoon Express and Leeward Express. The ferries are preferred by Barbudans because of their greater capacity to carry cargo including shopping and luggage back over to Barbuda in one go, and the larger number of seats available. It’s helpful if you ask the name of the boat you have booked and it’s essential to confirm the exact departure time and place, as there are more than one.

The crossing can be rough but most of the people who complain about the trip may be better off on the much shorter flight, or should have lived in Barbuda when we didn’t have a ferry at all! The ferries do not run in risky conditions so safety is a priority and if the weather is unpredictable it will be cancelled. All boats arrive in Barbuda at River Wharf, which is a fifteen minute drive into the village but too far to walk. There is no taxi rank at the ferry, so maybe you will want to book a taxi or a hire car or bike in advance to meet you there – there is no public transport on Barbuda. The ferry journey takes about 90 minutes although it passes quickly in good weather and we have sometimes even seen whales on the crossing – but so far we haven’t hit one.

They can ocassionally carry vehicles (but not for day trips) and can off-load large items by crane.They may leave from Crabbes Peninsula and/or from St John’s. For info on all three of their schedules and to book using what’s app, see the web site at www.barbudaexpress.com and look at their Facebook page for last minute info. For reservations call + 268 764-2291 or e-mail info@barbudaexpress.com.

They now have an office on Antigua (open from 6.30am to 2.00pm) to check in or buy tickets – look out for their new building in the parking lot near the ferry dock at Heritage Quay.